Consolidated revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 decreased (5.8)% year-over-year to $23.7 million, as higher unit sales volumes were offset by product mix and supply chain disruptions. Total sales volume increased year-over-year and Charlotte’s Web increased market share in all of its core channels. Operating metrics improvement were achieved in the quarter including increased gross margins, improved operating expenses and Adjusted EBITDA.

“Temporary supply chain disruptions affected some product availability, dampening revenue growth for the quarter. We substantially resolved these issues in October and are back on our growth trajectory with the holiday buying season in the fourth quarter,” explained Wes Booysen, Charlotte’s Web Chief Financial Officer. “In parallel, we are streamlining operations and reducing expenses to position the business for positive Adjusted EBITDA in 2022.”

Consolidated business-to-business (“B2B”) revenue increased 1.3% year-over-year on higher unit sales volume with new pet, topicals, and gummies distribution. Direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) ecommerce experienced increased customers and unit sales, however net revenue was 9.3% lower year-over-year  due to product mix and higher discounting in a more competitive DTC market. Year-over-year new subscriptions increased 47% and conversion rates increased 21%. DTC accounted for 64% of total revenue in the third quarter of 2021 versus 67% for the same period in 2020.

Charlotte’s Web brand leadership drove ongoing number one market share gains at retail across its core retail channels, including total US Food/Drug/Mass retail and total US natural specialty retail.

Gross profit was $14.9 million versus $14.8 million in the prior year. Gross margin increased to 62.9% of revenue versus 58.7% in Q3-2020 primarily due to higher unit sales volume, partially offset by product mix, third quarter supply chain disruptions and higher discounting.

Operating expenses were $23.9 million, a 15.6% year-over-year improvement from $28.3 million due to  expense reductions, cost controls, Abacus acquisition synergies, and supply chain optimization.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was negative $2.8 million, or (11.7)% of consolidated revenue, a 58.3% improvement from negative Adjusted EBITDA of $6.7 million, or (26.4)% of consolidated revenue, for the third quarter of 2020.

For Q3-2021, Charlotte’s Web reported a net loss of $0.9 million for the quarter, compared to a net loss of $6.5 million for the same quarter a year ago, for an improvement of $5.6 million, or 86%.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The Company used $20.6 million of cash in operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $43.5 million of cash used in operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The Company’s cash and working capital at September 30, 2021 were $21.1 million and $87.5 million, respectively, compared to $52.8 million and $113.6 million at December 31, 2020. Charlotte’s Web has a near-term IRS tax refund of $10.9 million and maintains an unused $10 million line of credit with JPMorgan, with potential to extend to $20 million.

Nine-Month Financial Review

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, Charlotte’s Web reported a net revenue increase of 4.3% to $71.3 million, with B2B revenue increasing 10.6% and DTC revenue increasing 1.4% versus the same period in 2020. Gross profit increased 7.5% to $44.4 million on gross margin of 62.3%, an improvement from 60.5% for the same period in 2020. Expenses decreased by 10.1% to $72.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA loss of $11.4 million was an improvement of $6.7 million. The nine-month net loss of $20.2 million was a $12.2 million improvement versus the prior period.

Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The Company’s unaudited financial statements and accompanying notes for the periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) are available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investors.charlottesweb.com.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2021 results at 4:30 p.m. ET on November 15, 2021. To participate in the call, please dial 1-416-764-8659 or 1-888-664-6392 approximately 10 minutes before the conference call. A recording of the call will be available through November 22, 2021. To listen to the rebroadcast please dial 1-416-764-8677 and provide conference ID 407437. A webcast of the call can be accessed through the investor relations section of the Charlotte’s Web website.

About Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc., a Certified B Corporation headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is the market leader in innovative whole-plant hemp extract wellness products under a family of brands which includes Charlotte’s Web™, CBD Medic™, CBD Clinic™, and Harmony Hemp™. Charlotte’s Web branded premium quality products start with proprietary hemp genetics that are 100-percent American farm grown and manufactured into whole-plant hemp extracts containing naturally occurring phytocannabinoids including cannabidiol (“CBD”), CBC, CBG, terpenes, flavonoids and other beneficial hemp compounds. The Company’s CW Labs R&D science division is located at the University at Buffalo in New York which is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system of 64 universities. Charlotte’s Web product categories include full spectrum hemp extract oil tinctures (liquid products), gummies (sleep, stress, inflammation recovery), capsules, topical creams and lotions, as well as pet products for dogs. Charlotte’s Web products are distributed to more than 14,000 retail outlets and 8,000 health care practitioners, and online through the Company’s website at www.CharlottesWeb.com.

Shares of Charlotte’s Web trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol “CWEB” and are quoted in U.S. Dollars in the United States on the OTCQX under the symbol “CWBHF”. As of November 12, 2021, Charlotte’s Web had 142,606,464 Common Shares outstanding.

_{(1)Non-IFRS Measures
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is not a recognized performance measure under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Adjusted EBITDA does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to ‎similar measures presented by other issuers. ‎ The term EBITDA consists of net loss and excludes interest (“financing costs”), taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes share-based compensation, impairment of assets, transaction costs, legal settlement costs, restructuring charges, and adjustments for fair value. Adjusted EBITDA is included as a supplemental disclosure because management of the Company believes that such measurement provides a more meaningful assessment of the Company’s operations on a continuing basis by eliminating certain non-cash charges and charges or gains that are infrequent. The most directly comparable measure to Adjusted EBITDA calculated in accordance with IFRS is net loss. See “Adjusted EBITDA” in the MD&A for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss.}

Original press release